Country music disappears from Grammy spotlight

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lady Antebellum landed an unexpected knockout of Eminem and took the night with five Grammys last year, including record and song of the year for "Need You Now." Taylor Swift and Zac Brown Band broke through in the general categories the year before.

Yet this year only one country nominee made the cut in the prestigious all-genre categories: new artist entry The Band Perry.

Some might suggest a country snub, but Jason Aldean, a first-time nominee who's up for three awards, including country album of the year, doesn't see this year's deficit as out of the ordinary. That the focus is on the likes of Adele, Bruno Mars and Rihanna is not surprising to him, even though he and Swift had two of the year's top-selling albums.

"All those artists are great and having a killer year, so it's hard to argue with what they're doing," Aldean said. "But I think it's something country music has fought for years and years. I don't think it's anything new. I don't think at least from my perspective it's something that I'd be shocked about. It's the way it always is. It's not going to change. It's just how it goes."

Aldean proves himself an astute student of country music history with that statement. The genre's ascendance in the last half of the last decade at the Grammys is an aberration, a statistical oddity based on the overwhelming crossover success of a handful of songs and artists who dominated pop music at the time of their wins.

Mainstream country has scored just 13 general-category trophies since the first Grammys in 1958. Just three of those came before 2000.

Lady A's win in the record of the year category in 2010 was just the second by a country artist. The Dixie Chicks, fresh from the band's excommunication by country radio after remarks about President George W. Bush, won three general category awards at the 2007 Grammys.

Aldean notes all those winners have something in common: crossover success. Especially Swift and Lady A.

"(Swift) was just as big in the pop world as she was in the country world," Aldean said. "That was just one of those you can't really deny. As an awards show you almost look stupid if she's not there. And I think Lady A last year, without a doubt they had one of the biggest songs, if not the biggest song, of the year. ... They had a huge year, a huge record. It's kind of hard to deny that."

Members of Lady A, up for country album of the year, said it didn't really matter in what categories their nominations fell. Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley are just happy to be back and able to spend time with good friends like Aldean, country song of the year nominee Dave Barnes, Eric Church and others.

"We'd be lying if we said we wouldn't be disappointed after such an incredible year there last year if we didn't get invited back to the party," Kelley said.

"It's fun to be able to support our friends in the industry, as well," Scott said. "There are a lot of our really close friends in the business who will be there that we can celebrate with and just enjoy the night."

Gary LeVox, lead singer for Rascal Flatts, thinks that's the right attitude to have. Rascal Flatts landed one of those coveted all-genre song of the year nominations for "Bless the Broken Road," but over time he's learned not to take it too seriously. It's in no way an exact science, after all.

"I know some Grammy voters that are actually friends of mine that only listen to country music, but they vote on categories in the rock world," LeVox said. "They don't know anything about the rock world and they'll tell you, 'I don't know. I've just heard of Maroon 5 so I just voted for that.' And those are my friends. I think some of that happens."

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AP writer Caitlin R. King in Nashville contributed to this report.

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Shines Spotlight on Adele Grammy

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - the Grammy Awards in recent years have targeted young audiences even though the former acts won the key to the surprise of some music fans, but the honours of Sunday shines its spotlight on Adele, whose popularity crosses all age limits.

Singer British soulful, whose album "21" resulted in massive hits such as "Rolling in the deep" and topped the charts for 19 weeks, entering great price of the industry of music with six nominations, second only to rapper Kanye West with seven.

But all the ears will be settled to Adele, 23, who is scheduled to give a Grammy performance which is his first since undergoing surgery of the gorge towards the end of last year. And everyone, young and old, wants to know if the interpreter of top-sale of 2011 has recovered.

"My eight year old Adele daughter sings songs and 75-year-old grandmother my friend sings Adele songs," said Nic Harcourt, former host of KCRW, who is among those to British singer on the map of U.S. music.

Voice of Adele is a breath of fresh air in 2011 for an industry struggling. "21" album sold more copies in a year than any other Act since "Confessions" Usher in 2004. Total current U.S. sales is about 6.3 million copies.

Over the past years, the Grammys have often seen relative newcomers top categories such as album of the year faced the veteran acts, only to see the older artists to win, shocking the industry focused on youth. Herbie Hancock 2007 jazz album, "River: The Joni letters," was one of the surprises of the latter.

This will not happen at the ceremony on Sunday in Los Angeles. Competition for the album of the year are Adele with "21", Lady Gaga for "Born This Way," Rihanna with "Loud", Bruno March for "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" and the Foo Fighters for "Wasting Light."

Indeed, many of the major categories are dominated by young stars of pop as Adele, Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna. Traditional rockers are in large part, with the exception of legend, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen, who are both set to perform at the show on Sunday in Los Angeles.

ADELE, WITHOUT MAKING POP

But in an ironic twist, Adele won celebrity precisely because it involves as many groups of spectators with its expressive ballads such as "Someone like you" as the sound as a survival in an industry dominated by electronic music.

"She had a little substance more and is not just a pop confectionery.". "With a classical sound, Grammy veteran voters are supporting her, while it also reaches young people, no problem", said Bob Merlis, President of the advertising of the MFH.

Adele singles were played on several radio formats, helping to sell albums for consumers more older as well as younger fans who tend to buy music online.

David Bakula, senior vice president, analytic Nielsen Entertainment Adele "exceeded the limits of a simple pop artist, which involves a host of younger, more focused on the singles." said Katy Perry is a good example of a star which sells tons of singles, but not tons of albums. ?

In addition, seven nods Kanye West of the Crown back critical and commercial for the controversial 34-year old rapper who made a voluntary break to perform in 2009.

West has recorded its best competitor of rap "My beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album in Hawaii after withdrawing from the scene of public music following severe criticism on his 2009 explosion involving country starlet Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Already a 14-time Grammy winner, it is named for the song of the year for "all of the Lights" and best performance rap with Jay - Z for "Otis".

The best new artist category reflects an eclectic mix of artists, the rapper Nicki Minaj and rapper j. Cole, to the sensations of countries The Band Perry, House and artist electropop Skrillex and American folk group Bon Iver.

Singer of "Rhinestone Cowboy" Glen Campbell, 75, currently on a

farewell tour after having announced it early stage of Alzheimer's disease, will receive a lifetime achievement award, and will perform with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton.

Other performers will include veteran crooner Tony Bennett, who is appointed for his Duet "Body and soul" with the late Amy Winehouse - Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Brown.

Bonnie Raitt happens after "Finally" singer Etta James, who died in January at the age of 73 years, and rapper and actor of "NCIS: Los Angeles" LL Cool J will be the first official host of the ceremony of the Grammy Awards in seven years.

The winners are determined by some 13,000 members of the Recording Academy, but only a handful of trophies in 78 categories is distributed on the dissemination of the live on Sunday.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Bob Tourtellotte)

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Musicians part of spotlight of SI swimsuit issue

NEW YORK (AP) — Sports Illustrated has made household names out of models with its annual swimsuit pictorial. Some musicians are hoping for the same bit of magic as the magazine shines a light on them in the famed issue.

Delta Spirit is one of the 17 emerging bands that will be featured on digital platforms for the issue, as songs are paired with particular models. Besides other content for its website and tablets, the magazine will have a four-page music spread and a two-day "Beauties & Beats" music festival in Las Vegas on Feb. 15-16, right after the Valentine's Day unveiling of the magazine, it was announced Thursday.

Matt Vasquez, lead singer of Delta Spirit, says being featured by the magazine is "a big deal."

"Bands these days have to have a real 21st-century mentality. We don't have an MTV really that sticks up for people, at least not in the capacity that it used to," he said in an interview last Friday. "It's very much the Internet and any readership that we can get in to let people know our band is good."

Vasquez says he's been an admirer of the swimsuit issue back to when Kathy Ireland graced its cover.

"I remember that was right when I started liking girls," he said. "I remember that cover of her. ... I think I started puberty early because of that."

Delta Spirit is one of the bands that will be on the bill at the music festival, along with swimsuit models, who will be by the stage for all performances.

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Online:

http://www.si.com

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Nekesa Mumbi Moody is the AP's music editor. Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/nekesamumbi

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Shines Spotlight on Adele Grammy

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - the Grammy Awards in recent years have targeted young audiences even though the former acts won the key to the surprise of some music fans, but the honours of Sunday shines its spotlight on Adele, whose popularity crosses all age limits.

Singer British soulful, whose album "21" resulted in massive hits such as "Rolling in the deep" and topped the charts for 19 weeks, entering great price of the industry of music with six nominations, second only to rapper Kanye West with seven.

But all the ears will be settled to Adele, 23, who is scheduled to give a Grammy performance which is his first since undergoing surgery of the gorge towards the end of last year. And everyone, young and old, wants to know if the interpreter of top-sale of 2011 has recovered.

"My eight year old Adele daughter sings songs and 75-year-old grandmother my friend sings Adele songs," said Nic Harcourt, former host of KCRW, who is among those to British singer on the map of U.S. music.

Voice of Adele is a breath of fresh air in 2011 for an industry struggling. "21" album sold more copies in a year than any other Act since "Confessions" Usher in 2004. Total current U.S. sales is about 6.3 million copies.

Over the past years, the Grammys have often seen relative newcomers top categories such as album of the year faced the veteran acts, only to see the older artists to win, shocking the industry focused on youth. Herbie Hancock 2007 jazz album, "River: The Joni letters," was one of the surprises of the latter.

This will not happen at the ceremony on Sunday in Los Angeles. Competition for the album of the year are Adele with "21", Lady Gaga for "Born This Way," Rihanna with "Loud", Bruno March for "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" and the Foo Fighters for "Wasting Light."

Indeed, many of the major categories are dominated by young stars of pop as Adele, Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna. Traditional rockers are in large part, with the exception of legend, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen, who are both set to perform at the show on Sunday in Los Angeles.

ADELE, WITHOUT MAKING POP

But in an ironic twist, Adele won celebrity precisely because it involves as many groups of spectators with its expressive ballads such as "Someone like you" as the sound as a survival in an industry dominated by electronic music.

"She had a little substance more and is not just a pop confectionery.". "With a classical sound, Grammy veteran voters are supporting her, while it also reaches young people, no problem", said Bob Merlis, President of the advertising of the MFH.

Adele singles were played on several radio formats, helping to sell albums for consumers more older as well as younger fans who tend to buy music online.

David Bakula, senior vice president, analytic Nielsen Entertainment Adele "exceeded the limits of a simple pop artist, which involves a host of younger, more focused on the singles." said Katy Perry is a good example of a star which sells tons of singles, but not tons of albums. ?

In addition, seven nods Kanye West of the Crown back critical and commercial for the controversial 34-year old rapper who made a voluntary break to perform in 2009.

West has recorded its best competitor of rap "My beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album in Hawaii after withdrawing from the scene of public music following severe criticism on his 2009 explosion involving country starlet Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Already a 14-time Grammy winner, it is named for the song of the year for "all of the Lights" and best performance rap with Jay - Z for "Otis".

The best new artist category reflects an eclectic mix of artists, the rapper Nicki Minaj and rapper j. Cole, to the sensations of countries The Band Perry, House and artist electropop Skrillex and American folk group Bon Iver.

Singer of "Rhinestone Cowboy" Glen Campbell, 75, currently on a

farewell tour after having announced it early stage of Alzheimer's disease, will receive a lifetime achievement award, and will perform with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton.

Other performers will include veteran crooner Tony Bennett, who is appointed for his Duet "Body and soul" with the late Amy Winehouse - Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Brown.

Bonnie Raitt happens after "Finally" singer Etta James, who died in January at the age of 73 years, and rapper and actor of "NCIS: Los Angeles" LL Cool J will be the first official host of the ceremony of the Grammy Awards in seven years.

The winners are determined by some 13,000 members of the Recording Academy, but only a handful of trophies in 78 categories is distributed on the dissemination of the live on Sunday.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Bob Tourtellotte)

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John Mayer back in spotlight, strumming new guitar

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - When Grammy-winning singer John Mayer returns to the musical spotlight in 2012, he's going to let his guitar do his talking. And not just any guitar, it will be a new limited edition, 12-fret acoustic made by C.F. Martin & Co.

Mayer and Martin & Co. will unveil the six-string guitar, of which only 25 will be made, on Wednesday at the National Association of Music Merchants annual gathering in Anaheim, California, south of Los Angeles.

"There's something about a smaller-bodied acoustic guitar that has always appealed to me," Mayer said in a statement. "I was inspired to return to a completely natural way of writing and recording music, and at the center of that vision were the Martin 00-sized guitars that defined an era of brilliant songwriting in the '60s and '70s."

Mayer, the soulful singer whose hits include "Your Body is a Wonderland" and "Daughters," is returning to the media spotlight from a hiatus that followed a high-profile relationship with Jennifer Aniston and a controversial interview with Playboy magazine in which he was criticized for comments that some considered racist. He later publicly apologized for those statements.

Since then, the singer has flown under the celebrity tabloid radar, but he has a new album, "Born and Raised," due later this year. His appearance at NAMM with the new Martin guitar brings Mayer back to his musician's roots.

The 00-45SC John Mayer Stagecoach Edition features a 12-fret range and will be made from premium rosewood and Adirondack spruce. Each guitar will feature an interior label personally signed by Mayer and numbered in sequence. The guitars have a suggested retail price of $13,999.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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